Queer Places:
749 Centre St, Newton, MA 02458, USA
Mount Auburn Cemetery, 580 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
Mary Clarke Shannon (1813 - August 1887), affectionately known as "Mary, Sr." within her family, was a notable philanthropist and advocate for social progress in 19th-century Massachusetts. She was the sister of Oliver N. Shannon and the aunt of Mary C. Shannon ("Mary, Jr.").
In 1842, Mary Clarke Shannon moved to Newton, Massachusetts, to live with her brother, Oliver, and his young daughter, Mary, Jr. She played a significant role in the upbringing of her niece and was a central influence on the younger woman’s life, particularly in the cultivation of their shared interests in social reform.
In 1840, Oliver Noble Shannon purchased a house and land at 749 Centre Street in Newton Center, Massachusetts. This property became the family home where Mary Clarke Shannon ("Mary, Sr.") moved in 1842 to live with her brother, Oliver, and his daughter, Mary C. Shannon ("Mary, Jr.").
Mary, Sr. was recognized as a "noble and philanthropic woman" and maintained an active, lifelong interest in:
Educational Reform: She was part of a circle of educators and intellectuals that included figures like Horace Mann, Cyrus Pierce, and Elizabeth Peabody.
Women’s Suffrage: She was an early proponent of the movement, which she and her niece actively supported.
Abolitionism: Along with other members of her household, she supported the abolitionist cause and fostered relationships with prominent figures such as Booker T. Washington, Samuel Gridley Howe, and Julia Ward Howe.
Mary, Sr. leveraged the family’s resources to support various charitable endeavors. Her most notable contribution was the founding of the Newton Home for Orphan and Destitute Girls in 1872, which she established alongside Rebecca Pomroy and Mrs. Daniel L. Furber. This organization, later renamed the Rebecca Pomroy Home for Orphan and Destitute Girls, remained a cornerstone of the family’s philanthropic efforts for decades.
Her home in Newton served as a hub for a broad social network that included not only reformers and educators but also prominent artists and writers of the day, such as sculptors Anne Whitney and Harriet Hosmer. Her legacy of activism and social commitment was continued by her niece, Mary C. Shannon, who expanded upon these efforts until her own death in 1901.
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